Governor’s Service Awards announced

MARQUETTE -- The Marquette-based Lake Superior Volunteer Corps and Christopher Wendt of Newberry were among the 38 recipients of the 2018 Governor's Service Awards, announced earlier this month by Gov. Rick Snyder.

"This year's winners have inspiring stories," Snyder said in a press release. "They have made a tremendous impact on the lives of others through their service. I am extremely grateful for contributions they have made for Michigan and am honored to recognize their incredible accomplishments."

The award winners will be honored during a special ceremony June 5 at the Wharton Center in East Lansing, hosted by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

The Lake Superior Volunteer Corps received recognition as an Outstanding Volunteer Program, alongside Detroit-based Life Remodeled and Team Rubicon Michigan, a statewide organization.

LSVC , offered through the Superior Watershed Partnership, works in collaboration with the Great Lakes Conservation Corps, according to information on the MCSC's website.

The LSVC gives people visiting Lake Superior an opportunity to help protect the lake and its watershed through environmental restoration work. In its first year, the LSVC hosted 20 volunteer events in Marquette County, with more than 300 volunteers serving 1,200 hours in the area, the MCSC's website states.

Wendt received a Youth Volunteer of the Year award, along with six others throughout the state.

At age 7, Wendt was inspired to serve in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts after he saw a television program demonstrating the challenges of victims of a 2004 tsunami, the MCSC website states.

Over the last 12 years, he's raised funds for tsunami victims, painted and repaired houses, served on search and rescue teams, provided peer counseling and served displaced fire evacuees.

In 2012, Newberry had a huge forest fire resulting in the need to evacuate residents, provide emergency shelter and more. Wendt volunteered every day for nearly three weeks during that emergency, the MCSC website states.

He currently attends Lake Superior State University, where he majors in fire science and minors in emergency management.

He hopes to be an emergency manager after graduation.